Isentress Special Precautions

General: Patients should be advised that current anti-retroviral therapy does not cure HIV and has not been proven to prevent the transmission of HIV to others through blood contact.
Raltegravir has a relatively low genetic barrier to resistance. Therefore, whenever possible, raltegravir should be administered with two other active ARTs to minimise the potential for virological failure and the development of resistance (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
In treatment-naïve patients, the clinical study data on use of raltegravir are limited to use in combination with two nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).
Depression: Depression, including suicidal ideation and behaviours, has been reported, particularly in patients with a pre-existing history of depression or psychiatric illness. Caution should be used in patients with a pre-existing history of depression or psychiatric illness.
Hepatic impairment: The safety and efficacy of raltegravir have not been established in patients with severe underlying liver disorders. Therefore, raltegravir should be used with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see Dosage & Administration and Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Patients with pre-existing liver dysfunction including chronic hepatitis have an increased frequency of liver function abnormalities during combination anti-retroviral therapy and should be monitored according to standard practice. If there is evidence of worsening liver disease in such patients, interruption or discontinuation of treatment should be considered.
Patients with chronic hepatitis B or C and treated with combination anti-retroviral therapy are at an increased risk for severe and potentially fatal hepatic adverse reactions.
Osteonecrosis: Although the aetiology is considered to be multifactorial (including corticosteroid use, alcohol consumption, severe immunosuppression, higher body mass index), cases of osteonecrosis have been reported particularly in patients with advanced HIV disease and/or long-term exposure to combination anti-retroviral therapy. Patients should be advised to seek medical advice if they experience joint aches and pain, joint stiffness or difficulty in movement.
Immune reactivation syndrome: In HIV-infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of institution of combination anti-retroviral therapy (CART), an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic pathogens may arise and cause serious clinical conditions, or aggravation of symptoms. Typically, such reactions have been observed within the first weeks or months of initiation of CART. Relevant examples are cytomegalovirus retinitis, generalised and/or focal mycobacterial infections and pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii). Any inflammatory symptoms should be evaluated and treatment instituted when necessary.
Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves' disease and autoimmune hepatitis) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reactivation: however, the reported time to onset is more variable and these events can occur many months after initiation of treatment.
Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis: Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported. Use with caution in patients who have had myopathy or rhabdomyolysis in the past or have any predisposing issues including other medicinal products associated with these conditions (see Adverse Reactions).
Severe skin and hypersensitivity reactions: Severe, potentially life-threatening, and fatal skin reactions have been reported in patients taking raltegravir, in most cases concomitantly with other medicinal products associated with these reactions. These include cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported and were characterised by rash, constitutional findings, and sometimes, organ dysfunction, including hepatic failure. Discontinue raltegravir and other suspect agents immediately if signs or symptoms of severe skin reactions or hypersensitivity reactions develop (including, but not limited to, severe rash or rash accompanied by fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, facial oedema, hepatitis, eosinophilia, angioedema). Clinical status including liver aminotransferases should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated. Delay in stopping raltegravir treatment or other suspect agents after the onset of severe rash may result in a life-threatening reaction.
Rash: Rash occurred more commonly in treatment-experienced patients receiving regimens containing raltegravir and darunavir compared to patients receiving raltegravir without darunavir or darunavir without raltegravir (see Adverse Reactions).
Lactose: This medicinal product contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Sodium: This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Dizziness has been reported in some patients during treatment with regimens containing raltegravir. Dizziness may influence some patients' ability to drive and use machines (see Adverse Reactions).
400-mg: Antacids: Co-administration of raltegravir with aluminium and magnesium antacids resulted in reduced raltegravir plasma levels. Co-administration of raltegravir with aluminium and/or magnesium antacids is not recommended (see Interactions).
Rifampicin: Caution should be used when co-administering raltegravir with strong inducers of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 (e.g., rifampicin). Rifampicin reduces plasma levels of raltegravir; the impact on the efficacy of raltegravir is unknown. However, if co-administration with rifampicin is unavoidable, a doubling of the dose of raltegravir can be considered in adults. There are no data to guide co-administration of raltegravir with rifampicin in patients below 18 years of age (see Interactions).
600-mg: Atazanavir: Co-administration of raltegravir 1,200 mg once daily with atazanavir resulted in increased raltegravir plasma levels; therefore, co-administration is not recommended (see Interactions).
Tipranavir/ritonavir: Co-administration of raltegravir 1,200 mg once daily with tipranavir/ritonavir could result in decreased raltegravir trough plasma levels; therefore, co-administration is not recommended (see Interactions).
Antacids: Co-administration of raltegravir 1,200 mg once daily with calcium carbonate and aluminium/magnesium containing antacids resulted in reduced raltegravir plasma levels; therefore, co-administration is not recommended (see Interactions).
Strong inducers of drug metabolizing enzymes: Strong inducers of drug metabolizing enzymes (e.g., rifampicin) have not been studied with raltegravir 1,200 mg once daily, but could result in decreased raltegravir trough plasma levels; therefore, co-administration with raltegravir 1,200 mg once daily is not recommended.